Contamination of Urban Soils by Cd: An Example of a Coal Mining City (Shariin Gol, Mongolia)

abstract

English

Cadmium is considered worldwide as one of the most common and at the same time the most dangerous pollutants from the group of heavy metals. The most common ways in which Cd can enter the environment anthropogenically include mining, coal burning, smelting or transport. Therefore, especially coal mining cities can be severely contaminated and need special attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pollution of urban soils (0–10 cm) by Cd in an important coal mining Mongolian city Shariin Gol using the Single Pollution Index (PI) and the Dutch Soil Guidelines target value for Cd as a background. PI values ranged from 1.10 to 2.38 with an average value of 1.82, which represents low pollution. Although the pollution of topsoil in Shariin Gol is low, it locally achieves moderate pollution (PI value is between 2 and 3). Due to the fact that mining heaps around the city have higher Cd contents (PI > 2.0), it can be expected that due to wind and water erosion there will be continuous contamination of urban soils by transport of cadmium-contaminated material in future years, which can be further increased by active and intensive mining activities and transport. Based on the results, it can be concluded that although there is a theoretically very significant risk of pollution by Cd, the real pollution of the topsoil by this element is currently low and therefore does not pose a risk to human health and local ecosystems.

urban soils, heavy metals, mining, coal, Single Pollution Index

PECINA, V.; KOMENDOVÁ, R.; JUŘIČKA, D.; BRTNICKÝ, M.

26. 11. 2020

Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta chemická

Brno

978-80-214-5920-0

Studentská konference Chemie je život 2020 - sborník abstraktů

první

114

115

2

https://www.fch.vut.cz/vav/konference/sok/vystupy/sbornik-abstrakty-konference-2020-pdf-p198641